Review of scientific experiments and technological demonstrations that will be carried out by Eitan Stiva in the sky mission. Out of 31 missions approved. Third review in a series that also includes four experiments of high school students selected for the flight
Ocular Imaging - Performing ocular imaging in real time under microgravity conditions for the purpose of diagnosing his medical problems
High-resolution imaging of the front segment of the eye using Slit-Trak will enable early and real-time detection of pathologies in the eyes, the central nervous system, and the heart and blood system that appear in over 70% of astronauts. Space research in a sky mission in collaboration with the Sheba Medical Center and Tel Aviv University with professional advice from the Israel Institute of Space and Aviation Medicine, will record the eyes of the astronauts before the flight into space, during their stay on the space station and after their return to Earth. The photographs will be analyzed using advanced algorithms of image processing and machine learning to detect changes in time and space in the front part of the eye. The experiment will lead to an in-depth understanding of the physiological changes that occur in the human body while in space. The Slit-Trak system is expected to help in the early identification and monitoring of the health status of astronauts in future missions to Mars and remote medicine on Earth.
Principal Investigators: Prof. Yigal Rottenstreich, Sheba Tel Hashomer Medical Center, Prof. Haim Suchovski, Tel Aviv University.
Evaluation of visual functions during space flight - understanding and evaluating the changes in visual function during space flight
Medical reports from previous space flights presented the results of two tests of the pilots' visual functions: far and near vision acuity and a test of retinal function using the AMSLER board. The various visual functions can be evaluated through several additional tests. All together can give a perfect picture of whether the lack of gravity affects the visual system. The tests that will be performed on this trip will be: color vision, three-dimensional vision, visual sensitivity to the target-background difference, visual field, AMSLER board, far and near vision acuity.
This trial is part of the clinical studies that will be performed on members of the AX1 team.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Aryeh Solomon, Eye Research Institute, Tel Aviv University.
The eye in orbit - examination of anatomical and functional eye changes linked to space flight using advanced imaging means
Microgravity conditions have a major impact on the anatomy of the eye. The current hypothesis is based on pressure changes in and around the optic nerve. Drainage of blood in the retina and the imaginal layer may be done in a microgravity environment. Recently, a new imaging modality, optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), has been able to reveal microvascular changes in the retina and the retinal layer. So far no microgravity ocular imaging tests using OCTA have been published. The purpose of the experiment is to characterize the blood vessels in the visual layer and retina using OCTA in order to better understand the changes related to the physiology of the eye in a space environment.
This trial is part of the clinical studies that will be performed on members of the AX1 team.
main investigator: Dr. Gal Antman, Rabin Medical Center. coPim: Spring Biomed Vision Company, Haifa. St. Hospital R. John for the eyes, Jerusalem.
Reflective Eye Test - eye test using a unique applet
Prolonged exposure to microgravity conditions during space missions may impair vision and cause neuro-ocular syndrome. The reported symptoms include decreased vision, changes in the optic nerve, retina, and change in refractive error. The purpose of the research in the Bar Ilan University's Sky Space Mission in collaboration with the Israel Institute of Space and Aviation Medicine is to examine the effect of microgravity conditions on vision function, using a digital functional vision test on a tablet computer. The tests will be combined with tested and existing technology sponsored by Cortex Therapeutics (Glassesoff).
main investigator: Prof. Uri Folat, Bar Ilan University.
Affiliates: Prof. Yossi Mendel, Bar Ilan University and Dr. Eran Shankar, Israel Institute of Space and Aviation Medicine (IAMI).
Overhead Spectacles - examination of innovative glasses technology for astronauts with presbyopia
Presbyopia is the aging eye's inability to focus at close distances. The common solution is the use of advanced add-on lenses (PALs) that provide optical improvement in the lower part of the lens and enable clear vision at a close distance. Shamir OverHead PALs offer a solution to astronauts with shortsightedness during space missions through a unique design that incorporates a near vision area located at the top of the lens. The purpose of the experiment is to examine the use of these lenses to characterize clear vision of nearby objects that are below and above the astronaut's eye level, such as instruments and overhead panels. main investigator: Shamir Optica.
Steak in space
Meat For Space - Examining the ability of cow cells to differentiate into cells that build the muscle tissue - the steak - under microgravity conditions
A prolonged stay in space is limited in the ability to provide quality nutrition to astronauts. Aleph Farms is developing a technological platform for the production of suitable cow steaks in a process that requires a significantly smaller portion of the resources needed to raise a whole animal for meat. In addition, the process is carried out under sterile environmental conditions that guarantee its effectiveness, its frequency and the safety of the final product. The company conducted a successful first experiment on the International Space Station in September 2019 in which it was able to assemble meat tissue using XNUMXD bioprinting. In the current experiment, as part of a sky mission, we will investigate the effect of zero gravity on the culture and differentiation of cow cells, into the cells that build the muscle tissues, the building blocks of the steak. Understanding these processes will advance the company's ability to develop a complete process of civilized steak production for long-term space missions on the one hand, and on the other hand to build an efficient production process that reduces the environmental footprint on Earth.
main investigator: Dr. Neta Levon, CTO and VP R&D, Aleph Farms.
Secondary researcher: Dr. Tzvika Tamari - head of the space exploration team, Aleph Farms.
Affiliates: SpacePharma, Space Applications.
The students' experiments
In addition to the experiments of universities and Israeli companies, Eitan Stiva will also perform four experiments of high school students that have been approved for launching into space.
microbiota
The experiment will test the effect of microgravity in space on the microbiota bacteria found in the gut, as well as the effect of antibiotics on microbiota under microgravity conditions. In other words, we are going to test the changes that will occur in the bacteria, and from that we will conclude about the function of the microbiota in space against antibiotics - in an attempt to optimize the microbiota transplants on Earth and in space.
Spacelab 2021 finalist experiment - new high school by Yitzhak Rabin Tel Aviv.
main investigator: The New High School Tel Aviv, as part of the Space-Love program of the Ramon Foundation, in collaboration with the laboratory of Prof. Kobi Moran-Gilad, Ben Gurion University.
Degradation of plastic in space by the bacterium Ideonella Sakaiensis
The purpose of the experiment is to test the effect of microgravity on the rate of degradation of plastic by the bacterium Ideonella Sakaiensis.
Recently it was discovered that there are bacteria that, when living in microgravity conditions, undergo a process of change in their genome (mutations), which gives them developed abilities. These bacteria become strong, large and their ability to culture is faster compared to other bacteria. The bacteria we are studying (Ideonella Sakaiensis) is from a series of bacteria that undergo this process. Therefore, we hypothesize that Ideonella Sakaiensis will also undergo the same development in space and consequently will be able to consume more plastic compared to bacteria that did not undergo the mutation.
Experiment winner of the SpaceLab 2021 program final - Shimon Ben Zvi Givatayim High School.
main investigator: The Shimon Ben Zvi Givatayim school, as part of the Ramon Foundation's Space-Love program, in collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Farhi Waxman, Bar Ilan University.
Examining the applicability of amorphous calcium (ACC) in favor of extending human stay in space
The 21st century will focus on extraterrestrial opportunities that will enable scientific research and, in the future, settlements in space. One of the challenges that people face in realizing this ambition is overcoming the bone and muscle depletion that occurs following a long stay (<6 months) in microgravity conditions.
Amorphical produces a unique formula of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) which in clinical and pre-clinical studies has proven a significantly improved absorption of the product compared to other solutions and accordingly an increase in bone mass as well as in muscles.
The experiment will be carried out using a Lab on a chip in which there will be human muscle cells (experiment and control) and human bone cells (as above) in which media including ACC will be flowed and the differentiation of the cells will be tested with and without amorphous calcium. The experiment will be carried out by SpacePharma, which specializes in biological experiments in space.
This is a follow-up experiment to a previous experiment that was carried out through the Keren Ramon Spacelab project about five years ago using mouse bone cells.
Principal Investigators: Amorphical Company - Dr. Yigal Blum, Yossi Ben, Moti Tykochinsky, Orit Icher, Sara Neuman, Yossi Yamin and the SpacePharma team.
Nano Ghosts
Nano ghost cells are nanometer cells (nanometer - a unit of measurement of length equal to a billionth of a meter) produced from mesenchymal stem cell membranes (stem cells are cells that have not undergone specialization into a certain type of tissue) that are found in all body organs and are known as cells with the following functions: Healing an injured organ in the body itself, creating substances that help other cells to survive and divide and stopping immune reactions. In other words, their purpose is to help stop the spread of infections.
In this experiment, the cells will be tested in microgravity conditions, both when they are wrapped in PEG polymer and when they are not wrapped in PEG polymer for comparison.
Experiment winner of the SpaceLab 2021 program final - Dekel Vilnai Ma'ale Adumim.
main investigator: The Dekel Vilnai school grows red onions as part of the "Spice-Love" program of the Ramon Foundation. In collaboration with the laboratory of Prof. Marcel Mahloof, Technion.
